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11th-hour power play targets incoming Dem governor after historic GOP defeat
Texas Republican Representative Brian Harrison has urged outgoing Governor Greg Abbott to call a special legislative session before Democrat Gina Hinojosa takes office, seeking to curb the governor’s emergency powers. The push follows Hinojosa’s election victory and matters because she has said she would use executive orders to address fuel taxes and residential electricity rates.
Harrison argues that the powers are too broad regardless of who holds office and wants lawmakers to pass his earlier bill, HB911, to restrict them. Texas law allows a governor to issue emergency directives and declare disasters; declarations must be renewed after 30 days and the Legislature can end them. The article says Abbott’s office and Hinojosa’s campaign did not respond to requests for comment.
In short
- Harrison wants Abbott to call a special session.
- He seeks limits on the governor’s emergency powers.
- Hinojosa has pledged action on fuel taxes and electricity rates.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters of a special session could argue that emergency powers should have clear limits, whoever holds the governorship. Acting before the transition would let the legislature address those limits in advance, rather than leave rules that Harrison considers too broad in place as Hinojosa takes office.
The case against
Critics could argue that a last-minute session risks looking like an attempt to constrain an incoming governor because voters chose a different party, particularly given Hinojosa’s stated plans to use executive orders on fuel taxes and electricity rates. They could also contend that existing safeguards—renewal after 30 days and the Legislature’s ability to end a declaration—make immediate changes unnecessary, and that any reform should be considered through the ordinary legislative process.
Explained simply
Texas’s governor can declare a disaster and issue emergency directives under state law. A declaration must be renewed after 30 days, and the Legislature can end it.
Brian Harrison is a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives, and Greg Abbott is the outgoing Republican governor. Gina Hinojosa, a Democrat, has won the governorship and has said she would use executive orders on fuel taxes and household electricity rates.
The dispute concerns how much authority a governor should have to act during an emergency without lawmakers’ approval. Any limits would shape the powers available to Hinojosa when she takes office, as well as to future Texas governors.